I Would Welcome Recommendations For Cryptic Crosswords For Beginners And Also Newspaper Puzzles That Are Free To Enter....

[puzzlesnail]

This year, I've made it my mission to crack Cryptic Crosswords so in my spare time, I'll probably be found puzzling and scratching my head.... If you can recommend any UK newspaper publications that offer cryptic crosswords that a beginner might be able to do then please share (smiley face)

Meanwhile, does anyone have any recommendations for UK (weekly or weekend) newspaper competition puzzles that are free to enter? The UK publication Mail on Sunday has the You Crossword and a general crossword with a £1500 prize which you can submit by post but all of the other puzzles that offer a prize, well you have to phone up or text (unsmiley face).

Failing that/as an alternative what's the best Sunday newspaper for puzzles? Anyone got any recommendations? You know a paper that quite literally you could spend all of Sunday puzzling away (big smiley face). Thank you in anticipation!

[Mamyalynne]

It's often hard to think back to when you began and what a beginner level is (for me at least) - but for a freebie, look at the Guardian.

https://www.theguardian.com/crosswords

[atalanta]

The Times has a notoriously fiendish cryptic crossword, but also has a smaller easier one.

[davegosling]

Try The Telegraph. I stopped doing that one years and years ago because, comparatively, it was so easy.